By Sputnik news
India has been seeking an exemption from US sanctions over the purchase of five S-400 units since 2018, when a $5.43 billion deal was signed with Russia. However, the Trump administration has kept threatening India with sanctions under CAATSA and, instead, offered American missile defence systems to New Delhi.
As the US has imposed sanctions against Turkey — a NATO member, an Indian expert is concerned that the same will happen to India once the delivery of S-400 air defence system starts from Russia next year.
Nevertheless, Amit Cowshish, a former financial adviser to the Indian Defence Ministry, believes that the Indian government may be “concerned by the development but not worried”.
The US Senate passed the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) earlier this month, which included economic measures against Ankara for its acquisition of S-400 missile defence systems.
Cowshish underlines that the sanctions against Turkey are an indication of the US’ resolve to impose CAATSA (Countering American Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) against countries which are engaged with Russia in defence purchases.
“India may be concerned about the development. This is not to say that sanctions may not be imposed in the future. In fact, many analysts believe that the sanctions against Turkey are an indication of the US’ determination to enforce CAATSA when the Russian defence system is received by India”, Cowshish emphasises.
CAATSA requires the imposition of certain sanctions on persons/entities who knowingly engage in a “significant transaction” with the defence or intelligence sectors of Russia.